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Ch. 7 The Axial Skeleton
Martini - Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology 12th Edition
Martini, Nath, Bartholomew12th EditionFundamentals of Anatomy and PhysiologyISBN: 9780137854011Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksMartini, Nath, Bartholomew 12th EditionCh. 7 The Axial SkeletonProblem 3
Chapter 7, Problem 3

The unpaired facial bones include the:
(a) Lacrimal and nasal
(b) Vomer and mandible
(c) Maxilla and mandible
(d) Zygomatic and palatine

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1
Step 1: Understand the difference between paired and unpaired facial bones. Paired bones occur as two symmetrical bones on each side of the face, while unpaired bones are single bones located along the midline of the face.
Step 2: Identify the bones listed in each option and determine whether they are paired or unpaired. For example, the lacrimal and nasal bones are paired, meaning there is one on each side of the face.
Step 3: Recall that the vomer is an unpaired bone forming part of the nasal septum, and the mandible is a single bone forming the lower jaw, so both are unpaired.
Step 4: Recognize that the maxilla, zygomatic, and palatine bones are paired bones, present on both sides of the face.
Step 5: Based on this analysis, select the option that correctly lists only unpaired facial bones.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Unpaired Facial Bones

Unpaired facial bones are single bones located along the midline of the face, meaning there is only one of each. These bones are distinct from paired bones, which occur in symmetrical pairs on both sides of the face.
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Overview of Facial Bones

Examples of Unpaired Facial Bones

The main unpaired facial bones include the mandible, which forms the lower jaw, and the vomer, which forms part of the nasal septum. Recognizing these helps differentiate them from paired bones like the maxilla or zygomatic bones.
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Overview of Facial Bones

Paired vs. Unpaired Bone Identification

Understanding the difference between paired and unpaired bones is essential for anatomy. Paired bones appear on both sides of the face (e.g., nasal, lacrimal), while unpaired bones are singular and central, aiding in correctly answering questions about bone classification.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Which of the following lists contains only facial bones? (a) mandible, maxilla, nasal, zygomatic, (b) frontal, occipital, zygomatic, parietal, (c) occipital, sphenoid, temporal, lacrimal, (d) frontal, parietal, occipital, sphenoid.

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Textbook Question

Blood vessels that drain blood from the head pass through the:

(a) Jugular foramina

(b) Hypoglossal canals

(c) Stylomastoid foramina

(d) Mental foramina

(e) Lateral canals

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Textbook Question

The boundaries between skull bones are immovable joints called:

(a) Foramina

(b) Fontanelles

(c) Lacunae

(d) Sutures

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Textbook Question

The joint between the frontal and parietal bones is correctly called the ____ suture.

(a) Parietal

(b) Lambdoid

(c) Squamous

(d) Coronal

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Textbook Question

Identify the cranial and facial bones in the diagram below.

a. ___

b. ___

c. ___

d. ___

e. ___

f. ___

g. ___

h. ___

i. ___

j. ___

k. ___

l. ___

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